Glorious Christmas Roast Beef

Why does Christmas always seem like the perfect time for roast beef? It’s likely because we associate a hearty cut of juicy beef with luxury, and the holidays are the ideal time for over-the-top indulgence.

Happily, it doesn’t take a lot of skill or effort to produce a lovely roast beef. In fact, it doesn’t even take a huge budget—long, slow cooking will tenderize even tough, inexpensive cuts of beef. But if you’re planning a fancy Christmas celebration, you can also opt to go all-out (prime rib is never unwelcome at the holiday table).

We’ve got five roast beef recipes sure to please your guests, from a simple slow cooker roast with onions and potatoes to a sophisticated, coffee-and-vanilla-scented prime rib. No matter which option you choose, your guests are sure to toast the cook—and the glory of well-cooked roast beef.

Best-Ever Roast Beef: A sweet, tangy sauce made with ketchup melts into a silky sauce for this roast beef.

Peppery Roast Beef: This is an all-in-one meal, since the sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts cook along with the beef.